Hey there! It’s Thursday, and I’m literally seeing a therapist in my dreams because I’m so burnt out. Here’s what you need to know today.

(By the way, if you’d like this emailed to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

1. Manhattan prosecutors zeroed in on Chicago’s Trump Tower amid criminal investigation of former president’s taxes

The New York City prosecutor investigating former President Donald Trump’s tax returns sought information from Cook County officials regarding Chicago’s Trump Tower, according to documents exclusively obtained by WBEZ.

“The documents signal that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s criminal investigation into Trump’s taxes and potential financial wrongdoing within his businesses could run, at least in part, through Chicago,” report WBEZ’s Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold.

In emails sent between September and November of last year, a representative from the district attorney’s office asked the Cook County Recorder of Deeds about information regarding Trump Tower. The county office is a clearinghouse for mortgage records, loan-forgiveness documents and property deeds. [WBEZ]

The timing here is noteworthy. The New York Times in September reported Trump paid only $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017. Then, in October, the newspaper took a hard look at Chicago’s Trump Tower, finding that Trump avoided paying taxes on forgiven debt largely generated from the building. [NYT]

2. Chicago faces a “very disturbing trend” in COVID-19 cases, Lightfoot says

Illinois and Chicago officials have steadily issued warnings this week about a recent rise in cases that some health experts say could become part of a larger surge of infections in the U.S.

In Chicago, the seven-day average of new cases has grown to 365 per day, up 23% from last week. The positivity rate, currently at 3.4%, has increased 2.9%, according to the city’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said today she is “ringing the alarm bells” over what could become another wave.

“The bottom line here is we’re seeing a very disturbing trend that could significantly impact our ability to move forward with reopening,” Lightfoot said. [Block Club Chicago]

This map from Axios shows that Illinois and 18 other states are reporting rises in their daily number of cases. Michigan is especially concerning because the state is suffering a nearly 50% increase. Health experts attribute the rise to states reopening too early as more contagious virus variants spread across the nation. [Axios]

Lightfoot also announced today that restrictions on outdoor gatherings will be relaxed. It appears to be an effort to persuade people to meet out in the open, where the risk of infection is lower than indoors. [Block Club Chicago]

3. Biden announces new goal of reaching 200 million vaccinations by end of April

President Joe Biden today doubled his election pledge of administering 100 million shots by his 100th day in office. The U.S. is already on track to meet the new goal, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 130 million vaccines have already been administered.

Biden’s comments came during his first press conference since becoming president. Biden blasted Republican-led efforts to restrict voting rights in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s loss, calling those moves “un-American.”

When it came to the border crisis, Biden dismissed the idea that migrant children are being sent unaccompanied by their families or guardians because of his “welcoming” messages.

Biden also said he is “prepared” to have talks with North Korea, which recently launched two ballistic missiles. Biden said he agrees with former President Barack Obama’s assessment that North Korea is the No. 1 foreign policy issue.

And Biden said he plans to run for reelection in 2024. But there were no questions about the pandemic or specifics about gun control legislation in the aftermath of two deadly mass shootings. [AP]

4. Loretto Hospital official connected to vaccine fiasco resigns

Dr. Anosh Ahmed, who was at the center of several vaccination controversies in Chicago, will resign as Loretto Hospital’s chief operating officer, the hospital’s board announced last night.

Ahmed’s name first surfaced after Block Club Chicago reported last week that employees at Trump Tower were vaccinated when they were not eligible. It turned out that Ahmed owned a condo in the building. Block Club later reported that two Gold Coast businesses, a luxury watch shop and a high-end steakhouse, both got early access to vaccines — and both counted Ahmed as a customer.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration accused Loretto of vaccinating well-connected people over West Side residents who depended on the hospital for shots. Loretto is no longer receiving new shipments of vaccines as the city investigates the situation.

The hospital has suffered what seems like a daily cycle of one embarrassing story after another. WBEZ reported last week that Loretto improperly offered vaccines to Cook County judges. [WBEZ]

Mayor Lightfoot today called for an independent investigation into the hospital to “determine the specific uses for every dose they have been allocated.” [Block Club Chicago]

5. Some good news for the job market

Weekly jobless claims in the U.S. fell to their lowest levels since the pandemic began, a hopeful sign that the labor market is improving as vaccinations ramp up. Last week, 684,000 new claims were filed, much lower than the roughly 735,000 filings expected by many economists.

A good chunk of the decline can be seen in Illinois, which reported 14,828 claims last week, a decrease of 56,347 from the previous week, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Some analysts hope hiring will accelerate by the end of the year, but some economists are more cautious and believe the U.S. could see a long slog before employment reaches pre-pandemic levels.

Coronavirus cases are rising in parts of the country, raising the possibility that local officials will bring back some business restrictions. And employment often doesn’t spring back as quickly as other parts of the economy after a downfall. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

• A deal has been reached to legalize recreational marijuana in New York, potentially creating a $4.2 billion industry. [New York Times]
• New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he expects Broadway and off-Broadway shows to reopen by September. [NPR]
• It could take weeks to free a massive cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal faster than it takes most of us to block our exes on social media. [NPR]
• Octopuses may have dreams. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

If you’re like me and need a little inspiration to make it to Friday, you’re in luck — the first episode of Art of Power, a new WBEZ podcast, is out today.

Hosted by award-winning journalist Aarti Shahani, the show draws insights from leaders around the world who have used their power in unconventional ways to make a difference.

This week’s episode features a conversation with Gaby Pacheco, an immigration activist who walked 1,500 miles to pressure former President Barack Obama to take action against deportations. Listen here. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

I finally completed watching the four-hour Zack Snyder cut of the Justice League, and I’d like to know who would be on your superhero team if you could pick anyone.

Mike Murphy writes:

“My superhero team would consist of Elastigirl on vocals, Jake the Dog on drums, Mr. Fantastic on bass, and Monkey D. Luffy on lead guitar. Our band would be called ‘Rubber,’ and we’d be known for our covers of songs like ‘Stretch’ by 50 Cent, ‘Rubberband Man’ by TI, and ‘Flexible’ by Jordan McGraw.”

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

Have a nice night! If you like what you just read, you can subscribe to the newsletter here and have it delivered to your inbox.